A Voyage in the Clouds: The (Mostly) True Story of the First International Flight by Balloon in 1785

Olshan and Blackall (The Mighty Lalouche, rev. 5/13) present another quirky account of lesser-known history. In the year 1785 "it seemed that everyone was flying," including "an Italian...a Scot...a woman...even a sheep." Dr. John Jeffries (born in Boston but considering himself an Englishman) and Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard were determined to be the first to complete an international flight by crossing the English Channel in a hot-air balloon. The greatest challenge, as it turns out, was not the trip itself but the duo's cantankerous relationship. Verbal jabs ("You, monsieur, are no gentleman"), personal slights (intentionally taking off before Jeffries delivers his farewell speech), and sneaky tricks (the wearing of a lead vest to throw off cargo weight) are plenty and humorous. The voyage (apart from the pair's frequent arguments) is going well...until the balloon overinflates, at which point Jeffries intervenes, causing the craft to dangerously descend toward the sea below. Jeffries and Blanchard work together to send sandbags, a violin, flags, and the pair's clothing -- excluding underwear -- overboard to lighten the load. They even pee ("every little bit helps"). Blackall's witty illustrations -- which include full-page art and double-page spreads in color along with occasional black-and-white comic-panel strips; word balloons; and florid ornamentation -- feel plucked from the time period. An author's note directs readers to Dr. Jeffries's firsthand account of the flight and reveals that portions of the book rely on Olshan and Blackall's creative adaptation of factual events. patrick gall

In 1785, Dr. John Jeffries and Jean-Pierre Blanchard were determined to complete the first international flight by crossing the English Channel in a hot-air balloon. The voyage (apart from the cantankerous pair's arguments) is going well...until the balloon overinflates. Blackall's witty illustrations--including occasional comic-panel strips--feel plucked from the time period. An author's note reveals the creative adaptations of factual events.